Gauge



May 13, 1941.

l. P. JOHNSON GAUGE Filed Nov. 1, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1 v im* A ATTO R N EYS Patented May 13, 1941 UNl'iED4 STATES PATENT OFFICE GAUGE Ira P. Johnson, Melrose, N. Mex.

Application November 1, 1939, Serial No. 302,418

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and improved gauges and more particularly to an automatic gauge to be used in testing the adjustment of switch shunt boxes and power switches in railway signalling.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of an automatic gauge that permits accurate adjustment of a railway switch without the necessity of manually changing the gauge upon each opening and closing of the switch during the testing operation.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description whenread in connection with the 'accompanyingv drawings which form a part of the application.

In. the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational View with parts in section illustrating the gauge in use.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

, Figures 4, 45 and 6 are detail perspective views of parts of the gauge being removed therefrom.

Figure 7 is an end View of the shaft shown in Figure 3, the same being removed from its housing, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of diierent-sized gauges employed with the device.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description thereof the automatic gauge generally designated by the reference numeral IIJ is shown in Figure 1 of the drawingsas being disposed upon a main r-ail I'I with which it is used for testing the switch point` I2. The gauge I0 comprisesv a substantially rectangular-shaped housing including integral side and top walls I3 and I4 respectively, and end and bottom walls I5 and IB respectively also of integral formation, the same being of sheet steel or similar material and held in assembled relation by bolts or'similar fastening means I1. to be frictionally held on the rail I I by means of the clamps I8 and I9 respectively, said clamps depending from and forming a part of the end and bottom walls I5 and I6 of the housing. Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that the gauge I0 projects beyond one side edge of the rail II and to accommodate the same the clamps I9 are angularly bent as indicated at 20.

A -shaft 2| extends longitudinally through the housing I0 having a bearing member 22 at one end of said housing through which it projects, said member being bolted or otherwise secured The casing is adapted lll to the end wall of the housing by means 23; The opposite end of the shaft 2|' which projects beyond the end of the casing has mounted thereon a substantially square-shaped hub `24 'to which is rattached a series of gauging elements 25. As more particularly'shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, the gauging elements 25 are of Varying thickness and are each provided with a threaded stern 26 for attaching said elements to thejhub 24. For purposes of identification the gauges 25 are lettered A, B, C and D, gauge A being of the minimum thickness and the other gauges increasing proportionately. It will Icel noted-that the gauge elements 25 have a cut out portion for fitting against the switch rail I2 as shown in Figure l of the drawings.

The switch to be tested is'opened approximately ta Way and the housing'k is placed on the rail II in the manner shown 'in Figureland is `approximately inches back from the `end of the switch point with `the gauge carrying end` of the shaft projecting from the housing and with the rst gauge A tov be used; pointed downwardly. The switch is then closed to test the adjustment of the switch box relative to gauge A. For `example, facing point of switch signals at stop position on 1A; inch and clear on Tse inch. Trailing point of switch signalsat stop position on 3/8 inch and clear on inch. Asis well known the switch boxv from where the/adjustment is made isy usually at a point removed from the switch and adjacent the stand from which the switch is operated. In the eventthat gauge A does not give an accurate test, the closingof the switch vvillforce the rail I2 against the rail I I to eiect a partial rotation of the shaft 2l to position gauge B, the same being effected in the following manner. y

A tension spring 2l is mounted lon the .shaft r 2| and has one end abutting the bearing member 22 and the other end held by means of a fixed collar 23, said spring? adapted to be compressed upon movement of the shaft 2| .by the closing of the switch. A series of `fingers or prongs 2Q are formed integral wiith the shaft '2l and extend at an angle therefrom in front of the spring 2l. A steel plate 30 is attached to the forward end of the frame I0 through which the fastening members II extend, said members also serving to xedly hold the stop plate 3l and vto pivotally mount the dog 32 on opposed sides of the shaft ZI. The stop plate 3| comprises a bottom portion 33 and L-shaped arm 34 against which the prongs 29 are adapted to engage for limiting rotation of the shaft. The dog 32 is formed with an angular portion 35 sloping toward the shaft 2| as more clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The dog 32 is swung away from the shaft 2| by the prongs 29 when said shaft is pushed inwardly, said dog moving against the coil spring 36 carried by a member 31 also secured by the fastening members Referring more particularly to Figure 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the member 31 is formed with an arm 38 including a tapered portion 39 on which the spring 36 reposes.

As the switch is closed from the operating stand, the rail I2 is moved against the thickness gauge A causing said gauge to be moved with its shaft 2| against the main line rail thereby giving the distance between the rail and the switch point. As the shaft is pushed inwardly against the tension of the spring 2'| one of the prongs 29 will abut against the dog 32 swinging the same outwardly against the tension of its spring 35 so that said prong will then be positioned on the opposite side of the dog 32. When the switch is again opened, the compression spring 2l will urge the shaft 2| toward its normal position, the

movement of which allows one of the prongs 29 quarter turn, one of the other prongs 29 will be brought into engagement with the arm 34 of the stop 3| thereby preventing further rotation of the shaft 2|. Thus it will be seen that thickness gauges 2'5 of various dimensions can be brought into place between the main rail I and the switch point |2 upon the opening and closing of the switch and that the assembled gauge does not require the attention of the workman after its installation upon the main rail.

The thickness gauges 25 are readily interchangeable since the block 24 is formed with internally threaded recesses for receiving the threaded ends 26 of said gauges. It is preferred, however, that the gauges be graduated in size with the thinner gauge used first and the succeeding gauges being of a gradual thicker dimension.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

- What is claimed is:

1. An automatic railway switch testing device comprising, a frame, means for supporting said frame on a rail, a shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within said frame, and a plurality of gauge elements connected with said shaft for movement therewith as a unit to be successively brought into position upon movement of said shaft.

2. An automatic railway switch testing device comprising, a frame, means for supporting said frame on a rail, a shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within said frame and projecting beyond one end thereof, a plurality of gauge elements connected with said projected end for movement with said shaft as a unit, and means for rotating said shaft to bring successive gauge elements into gauging position through reciprocation of the shaft.

3. An automatic railway switch testing device comprising, a substantially rectangular-shaped frame adapted to be supported upon a main rail, a shaft rotatably and slidably disposed within said frame, a compression spring surrounding said shaft and having one end attached thereto with its other end abutting said frame, said shaft adapted to be moved lengthwise against the tension of said spring when contacted by the switch rail, and a plurality of gauge elements connected with said shaft for movement therewith as a unit adapted to be successively brought into position upon rotation of the shaft through lengthwise movement thereof against the tension of said spring.

4. An automatic railway switch testing device comprising, a substantially rectangular shaped frame adapted to be supported upon the main rail, ashaft rotatably and slidably mounted within said frame,acompression spring surrounding said shaft and having one end attached thereto with its other end abutting said frame, said shaft adapted to be moved lengthwise against the tension of said spring, a series of diverging prongs formed in spaced relation on said shaft, a plate attached to the front end of said frame, a dog pivotally attached to said plate on one side of said shaft, a stop member pivotally attached to said plate on the other side of said shaft, said prongs adapted to engage said dog to effect partial rotation of said shaft upon slidable movement thereof, said stop member being contacted by said prongs to limit rotation of said shaft, and a plurality of gauge elements connected with said shaft for movement therewith as a unit and adapted to be successively brought into position upon rotation of the shaft.

5. A device for gauging the relative distance between a switch point and a rail comprising a frame, means for supporting said frame on a rail, a shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within said frame, a plurality of gauge elements connected with said shaft for movement therewith as a unit to be successively brought into position upon rotation of said shaft, said gauges being positioned between the rail and switch point, and means on said shaft for effecting partial rotation thereof upon the closing of the switch point against the gauge elements.

IRA P. JOHNSON. 

